Senior Manager - University Partnership - Degrees

About upGrad

upGrad is India's largest online higher education platform, offering world-class degrees and professional programs in collaboration with top national and global universities. Our mission is to make quality education accessible and career-relevant by combining academic excellence with industry-aligned learning.

Role Overview

University Partnership Manager

This is a high-impact, travel-intensive role that requires entrepreneurial drive, relationship-building finesse, and deep understanding of how universities function both academically and administratively.

Key Responsibilities -

1. University Outreach & Relationship Management -

• Identify, approach, and build strong working relationships with key decision-makers across universities (Vice-Chancellors, Registrars, Deans, Directors, CDOE Heads, etc.).
• Represent upGrad in meetings, seminars, and education fairs to drive institutional collaborations.
• Maintain and grow a healthy pipeline of potential university partners.

2. Partnership Development -

• Pitch partnership models and joint program opportunities (UG, PG, and professional certificate programs).
• Work with internal stakeholders (Academic, Product, Legal, Tech, Marketing, and Finance) to structure mutually beneficial MoUs and business proposals.
• Lead the entire partnership cycle from lead generation and proposal creation to negotiation, closure, and onboarding.

3. Program Ideation & Execution -

• Collaborate with university faculties to co-create academic programs, aligning university strengths with upGrad's industry expertise.
• Ensure smooth handover of signed partnerships to the internal operations and program management teams for execution.
• Monitor partnership health, resolve issues, and ensure long-term retention and satisfaction.

Key Skills & Competencies -

• Strong university connects:

  Prior working relationships with IITs, IIMs, ISB, and Top -Tier universities.

• Excellent communication & presentation skills

  ability to engage academic leaders and CXOs.

• Negotiation & persuasion abilities

  adept at navigating institutional bureaucracy.

• Entrepreneurial mindset

  self-starter who can generate leads independently and close them.

• Collaborative working style

  comfortable working with cross-functional teams.

• High travel readiness

  willingness to travel 1015 days a month across India.

Qualifications & Experience -

• Graduate / Post-graduate in Business, Education Management, or related fields (MBA preferred).
• 610 years of experience in

  university alliances, academic partnerships, B2B sales, or institutional business development

  within EdTech, or higher education organizations.
• Demonstrated success in managing partnerships with top universities or government academic bodies.

Why Join upGrad -

• Work with India's most trusted higher-education brand.
• Opportunity to shape the future of online and blended learning.
• High ownership role with freedom to create impact through strategic partnerships.
• Competitive compensation with travel allowance and performance incentives.